With 99% of Iowa precincts reporting, both NBC and ABC called the
race for Cruz shortly before 10:30 p.m. ET. He was leading with
28% of the vote, compared with 24% for Trump and 23% for Sen.
Marco Rubio of Florida.

Other outlets soon followed with their projections.

Cruz gave a victory speech at his campaign's Iowa headquarters
shortly after 10:15 p.m. CT.

"God bless the great state of Iowa," he boomed into the
microphone to start his speech.

"Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next
president of the United States will not be chosen by the media,"
he continued. "Will not be chosen by the Washington
establishment. Will not be chosen by the lobbyists. But will be
chosen by the most powerful, incredible force ... by we, the
people. The American people."

Iowa's Republican Party chair told reporters that more than 180,000 Iowa
Republicans turned out to vote, shattering the 2012 record of
about 120,000. Cruz set a record for the most Iowa caucus votes
received by a single candidate.